Nomads appeal case Saturday
Football Association of Malawi (FAM) has set Saturday for the hearing of Mighty Mukuru Wanderers’ appeal case against the association’s competitions committee findings and determinations on their abandoned Airtel Top 8 quarter-final against Silver Strikers.
The match was abandoned in added time on September 23 at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe after referee Godfrey Nkhakananga blew a whistle for a handball, but allowed play to continue, leading to the Central Bankers scoring their second goal which sparked protests from Wanderers players.
The association’s competitions and communications director Gomezgani Zakazaka said in an interview yesterday that the case will be heard in Blantyre by FAM appeals committee, which is chaired by Allison M’bang’ombe.
FAM has since asked the Nomads have been asked to bring witnesses “and/or any documentary evidence and their legal representatives”.
The FAM competitions committee has also been asked to submit a response to Wanderers’ grounds of appeal by today.
Among other grounds, the Nomads, who have engaged private practice lawyers Kalekeni Kaphale and David Kanyenda, argue that the committee erred in determining and finding them guilty of causing the abandonment of the match.
Reads part of the appeal: “The committee erred in law and in afact in failing to determine that the obvious officiating error by referee Mr. Godfrey Nkhakananga, caused the abandonment of the match.
“The committee erred in law and in fact in failing to take into account the provisions of Article 16 (1) of the Fifa disciplinary code by imposing a severe and disproportionate penalty of forfeiture of the match by a margin of 2-0.”
TheNomads further argue that the committee erred by failing to order either a replay ”or the prevailing result of 1-1 to stand”.
Wanderers also argue that the committee erred by determining that their supporters were violent “or that they pelted objects on the field of play and damaged stadium seats”.
Wanderers, therefore, want the appeals committee to set aside or reverse the competitions committee’s determinations.
FAM competitions committee awarded the game to Silver by a 2-0 margin after finding the Nomads guilty of causing the abandonment. They were also made liable to pay the sum of about K22 million for the damage of seats at the stadium by their alleged supporters.
Wanderers were also fined K2.5 million for among others, failing to control their supporters, bringing the game of football into disrepute and causing the abandonment.
